By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Pasco-Hernando Community College has named James E. Johnson as athletic director and head men's basketball coach, replacing Bobby Bowman after 20 years.
As athletic director, Johnson will oversee all of the school's athletic programs, including the men's basketball and baseball teams and the women's volleyball, cross country and softball teams.
With more than 23 years of experience, Johnson most recently served as basketball coach and athletic director at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark. The school's 2010-11 men's basketball team was the runner-up in the NAIA/Association of Independent Institutions Conference and had two players who earned all-conference honors.
Johnson's previous coaching experience includes working at the NAIA, NCAA Division I and semiprofessional levels. He was an assistant men's basketball coach at Western Washington University and a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olsen. He also coached several honorable mention all-America and academic all-America candidates.
He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Washington University and a master's degree in education from the University of Arizona.
COPELAND FOOTBALL CAMP: The Hernando County Recreation Department will host the Horace Copeland Football Camp on July 22-23 at Springstead High School in Spring Hill.
Copeland, a former University of Miami and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver, won two national championships in college. The curriculum for the clinic will be aimed at developing fundamental football skills to enhance individual and team skills at all positions.
The cost is $110 per person, with youths ages 7 to 14 welcome. The times for the camp will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. All campers will be provided an official Horace "Hi-C" Copeland camp shirt, a personalized participation certification, lunch daily and a special autograph session with Copeland and other former pro players at the conclusion of camp.
Register online by visiting horacecopeland.com or at hernandocounty.us/parks_rec/, where registration and waiver forms may be printed.
Call Harry Johnson or Christie Williams at (352) 754-4031 or send e-mail to recreation@hernandocounty.us.
PHCC SPORTS CAMPS: Pasco-Hernando Community College is offering four summer sports youth camps at the West Campus in New Port Richey.
The camps are directed by PHCC head coaches and operated with the assistance from the college's assistant coaches, athletes and area high school coaches. Sessions include fundamental skills, individual player development and team competitions. Fees include registration, camp T-shirts and instruction.
The baseball camp will run from June 6-8 and is open to boys ages 7 to 13. It will be run by PHCC coach Steve Winterling and will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day. The fee is $75.
There will be multiple volleyball camps. An individual skills session will run from June 6-8 for girls ages 8 to 18. It will run daily from 8 to 11:30 a.m. There will be a specialty session from 5 to 8:30 p.m. June 6 and June 8-9 for girls ages 12 to 18. The cost for these sessions individually is $100. Players can participate in both for $175. They will be run by PHCC coach Kim Whitney.
The softball camp will be from 9 a.m. to noon June 6-9 and is open for girls ages 7 to 17. It will be run by PHCC coach Tom Ryan. The fee is $70.
The basketball camp will be from 8 a.m. to noon June 13-16 and is open to anyone age 7 to 16. It will be run by PHCC coach James Johnson and assistant coach Michael Jones. The fee is $75.
All camps are open to the public. For registration forms and information, visit phcc.edu/athletics/camps/.
WEST HERNANDO COUGARS: The West Hernando Cougars youth football and cheerleading program will have registration for the coming season over the next several weeks.
Officials will be at Delta Woods Park on Deltona Boulevard in Spring Hill for signups from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates: Saturday and June 11, June 18 and June 25.
The Cougars' season starts July 11, with a 10-game schedule. The cheerleaders participate in competitions around the Tampa Bay area.
The football registration fee is $195 per child, with flag football $125. The fee includes rental of pads and a personalized jersey to keep. The cheerleading fee is $225 with a full uniform to keep. There is a $10 discount for every sibling also registered.
Call Bobby McFarland at (352) 585-6524 or visit West Hernando Cougars Football and Cheerleading on Facebook.
HYL FOOTBALL: The Hernando Youth League is beginning registration for the 2011 season.
Teams are available for kids ages 5 to 15. Registration will be June 11 at Ernie Wever Park in Brooksville.
Registration forms are available at leaguelineup.com/hylfootball. Forms must be presented at time of signup. The cost is $125, and space is limited.
For information, call Rick Hankins at (352) 346-0000 or send e-mail to popwarnerhernando@gmail.com.
JEROME BROWN GOLF: World Woods Golf Club, north of Brooksville, is hosting the Jerome Brown Golf Classic on Saturday, sponsored by Bright House Networks.
Proceeds will benefit the Jerome Brown Youth Foundation. For an entry fee of $65 per golfer, participants get 18 holes, a cart, lunch and a cap. The format is a four-person scramble.
Registration will be at 11:30 a.m., with lunch at noon. The shotgun start will be at 1 p.m.
For information, call Dianna Rusk Yoder at (352) 796-2526.
FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL CLINICS: The Hernando County Recreation Department is offering fast-pitch softball clinics at Anderson Snow Park in Spring Hill.
The private lessons are for players ages 7 to 16. The clinics will be led by April Pelham, a certified Florida fast-pitch instructor with more than 20 years of experience.
The cost is $20 for a 30-minute hitting or catching lesson. It is $15 for a 30-minute fielding or throwing lesson. Pitching lessons are also available at rates of $20 for 30 minutes, $25 for 45 minutes or $40 for one hour.
Call Penny Oliver at (352) 754-4031 or send e-mail to pennyo@hernandocounty.us.
BRITISH SOCCER CAMP: The First Hernando Youth Soccer Club has teamed up with Challenger Sports to host a weeklong British soccer camp July 18-22 at Anderson Snow Park in Spring Hill.
Each child will work with a member of a team of more than 1,000 British coaches being flown to the United States exclusively to work with summer programs. Challenger Sports will hold more than 3,000 camps this summer and coach more than 120,000 children between the ages of 3 and 19.
Space is limited, and parents are encouraged to register their children as soon as possible. To attend for a half day from 9 a.m. to noon, the cost is $117 for the week for ages 5 to 18. For a full day, the fee is $165 for ages 10 to 18. Goalkeepers ages 10 to 18 may attend from 5 to 8 p.m. for a cost of $117.
Each camper will receive a T-shirt, soccer ball, poster and a personalized skills evaluation.
For information, call Robert Andreu at (813) 283-4523 or send an e-mail to robertandreu@bellsouth.net. To register for the camp, visit challengersports.com.
To notify us of community sports achievements or coming events, contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.